Chapter 133

Since the dragon steeds were resting in their enclosures at that hour, we walked back to the mansion on foot. Things had been chaotic, but I hadn't forgotten to bring Rabi along.

Stealing a glance at the Duke's profile as he walked — neat and composed enough that no one would have believed he'd spent the night sleeping in a dragon enclosure — I swallowed a sigh.

If I hadn't seen him asleep with his arms around his sword, I would have thought nothing was different from usual.

Silence settled between us as we walked beneath the morning sunlight. After a while of treading over dew-laden grass, the mansion gradually came into view.

"Shall I pretend not to know about today?"

It was a question I'd asked once before, but it was also the most natural way to break the silence.

"They probably already know. I wasn't in my room…